Nokia makes its services more consumer-friendly

Nokia’s Preminet solution, launched this week at the CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment event in San Francisco, sources Java and Symbian OS software from leading developers and content aggregators around the globe to give network operators a master catalog of applications, games and other mobile content. It also offers operators a complete solution for delivery, billing and revenue distribution, providing an end-to-end, operator-brandable platform for launching new applications and services to consumers.

Consisting of a master catalog, a service delivery platform and an optional client application, Preminet provides a turnkey solution that initially is available as a &to=http://english.pravda.ru/comp/2002/09/26/37293.html' target=_blank>hosted offering by Nokia. Preminet is designed to integrate easily into existing systems, including content delivery gateways, authentication systems and billing platforms, informs XCHANGE.

According to PC Pro, "Until now, each operator has been responsible for maintaining hundreds of relationships with individual Java and Symbian OS developers and sourcing and testing each application before bringing them to the end-user," said Lee Epting, VP of Forum Nokia. "With Preminet, we now provide a single source for operators to acquire a comprehensive range of industry certified content, applications and services, and a complete platform for managing distribution to their customers."

The launch coincides with the increasing popularity of "smartphones", handsets which can run PC-type programmes such as e-mail and navigation software. This year, some 20 million units are expected to be sold, a number expected by market analysts to grow to over 150 million units in four years' time.